Eight historic houses help tell the history of OKC oklahoman.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from oklahoman.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
An Oklahoma City building has just been added to a National Registry of Historic Places.
It s the official end to a heated debate that looked like a long shot from the start for those trying to save the place.
At first, it appeared the only thing to gain in trying to save the Brockway Center was a huge lawsuit.
In May 2019, the 100-year-old building at 1440 N Everest Avenue was slated for demolition.
The CARE Center next door, which helps abused children, was using the space for expansion.
Oklahoma City Councilwoman Nikki Nice got the word out.
The building called the Brockway Center served as a meeting place for an African American women s group.
Oklahoman
The Brockway Center, a longtime civil rights landmark that was once within days of demolition, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places by one of the protesters who refused to give up in the fight for its rescue.
The author of the successful application, Catherine Montgomery, wrote the center’s period of significance beginning in 1968 aligns with its purchase by the Oklahoma City Federation of Colored Women’s Club.
Montgomery said efforts to add the building at 1440 N Everest Ave. to the register date back about 15 years when the women’s club sought a listing to help obtain city assistance in making needed repairs. She said that effort was blocked by then city councilman Skip Kelly.